Washing machine with water motor having an exhaust connected to washer tub



Aug. 25, 1953 J. M. TYRNER WASHING MACHINE WITH WATER MOTOR HAVING AN EXHAUST CONNECTED TO WASHER TUB Filed Oct. 8. 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l A l I ll v!llllfflrfffflllflllllf!Ilffflfllfllllllrflflllllliyffflfi INVENTOR WW W ATTORNEY Aug. 25. 1953 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 J. M. TYRNER WASHING MACHINE WITH WATER MOTOR HAVING AN EXHAUST CONNECTED TO WASHER TUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 WASHING MACHINE WITH WATER MOTOR HAVING AN EXHAUST CONNECTED TO WASHER TUB Joseph M. Tyrner, Morristown, N. J.

Application October 8, 1949, Serial N 0. 120,276

Claims. 1

This invention relates'to washing machines of the type that are used in homes and apartments for doing small washings, such as stockings, lingerie and childrens clothes.

One objectof the invention is to provide an improved washing machine that can be used with a minimum of attention, the machine being constructed so as to change automatically from Washing to rinsing.

Another object is to provide a hydraulicallyoperated washing machine in which an agitator is rocked to and fro by a simple and reliable mechanism having a water motor from which the exhaust is discharged into the washing tub to supply water for the washing operation, and subsequently for rinsing.

. Features of the invention relates to structure that is inexpensive to build and assemble, and that is particularly reliable in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a washing machine embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a view of the operating mechanism of the machine shownin Fig. 1, the view being taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1,

' Figure 3 is a sectional view takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, but with the valve housing shown in section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on the lines 55 and 66, respectively of Figs. 2 and 5,

respectively.

The washing machine includes a generally cylindrical tub H) which has a partition forming an intermediate bottom I]. The tub has a bottom I2 below the partition H, the bottom being preferably of one piece construction with the sides of the tub. In the illustrated washing machine, the intermediate bottom is supported by and connected with a corrugation 14 that ex-' tends inwardly anad circumferentially around the side of the tub 10. A cover 16 fits over the. upper end of the tub I0, and closes the tub to prevent water from splashing out when the washing machine is in use.

There is a circle of openings Is in the intermediate bottom for the passage of water from the chamber beneath the bottom H into the washing chamber above the intermediate bottom. These openingsis are located near the wall of the tub I!) and at closely spaced regions around the circle so that water entering the washing chamber from beneath the intermediate bottom II is distributed substantially uniformly around the outer portion of the washing chamber and at the lower end of the washing chamber.

The tub I0 is supported by feet '26 having soft pads 2i secured to their bottom faces. There are preferably three such feet angularly spaced by 120 around the under face of the bottom l2 for stably supporting the washing machine along a table or other underlying surface.

A drain valve housing 23 is attached to the underside of the tank bottom l2 by bolts 24 extending through the bottom [2. This drain valve housing 23 has openings 25 that register with openings 2? in the tub bottom I2 for draining liquid from the tub. A base 29 extends upward from the drain valve housing 23 into the chamber between the tank bottom 12 and the partition H.

There is an agitator 30 within the washing chamber. This agitator preferably has three blades 32 angularly spaced from one another by 120 and the blades 32 are secured to a sleeve 34 of the agitator. This sleeve 35 has bearings 36 and 31 pressed into its upper and lower ends, respectively. The bearings 36 and 3'5 are free to turn on an axle 39 which is secured at its lower end to the base 29. The agitator sleeve 34 extends through a central opening all in the partition II and preferably has a flange M substantially filling this central opening so as to reduce the amount of water that can flow through the clearance between the sleeve 34 and the edge of the central opening 40.

The agitator axle 39 is a hollow tube and serves as an overflow pipe for the washing chamber, there being ports 53 near the upper end of the agitator axle 39. Water in the tub it, above the level of the overflow ports 43, flows through these ports into the hollow interior of the agitator axle 39, and downward into the drain valve housing 23.

. In order to prevent the overflow ports 43 from being clogged by clothes coming up against them, there are guards d4 attached to the upper end of the agitator sleeve 34 and extending upward in front of the overflow ports 43 at angularly spaced regions around the agitator. These guards keep the clothes spaced from the ports 43, and if the openings between the guards 44 are clogged by clothes, they'will be freed again by the movement of the guards with the agitator.

There is a water outlet 5 at one end of the drain valve housing 23, and this water outlet 55 has a cylindrical outside surface of a size and shape to fit into a hose through which the water can be drained. If the washing machine is placed in a bath tub or over a wash basin, no hose need be used on the water outlet :35.

A valve ii, in the valve housing 23, is secured to the lower end of a rod 49 which extends upward through the agitator axle 39 to a knob 50. This knob Ed has a lower end portion with a diameter that fits the axle 39 as a bearing; and the knob 58 is threaded over the upper endof the rod 39 so that rotation of the knob in one direction lifts the rod 49, while rotation of the knob se in the other direction permits'the rod 19 to move downward. V

The upward and downward movement ofthe rod 49 raises and lowers the drain valve-Gil so as to move a face covering 52 of the valve into and out of contact with annular valve seats 5 at the lower ends of the openings 26. A portion of the peripheral edge of the drain valve di is cut away to straddle the boss of the valve housing 23 through which the bolt 243 extends. This recess in the periphery of the drain valve ll leaves it free to move up and down parallel to the bolt 2 but prevents the drain valve t? from rotating and thus prevents turning of the rod 39 when the knob 5th is being rotated to open or close the drain valve il.

There are openings 56 in the'drain valve 41; beneath the agitator axle 39, so that water overflowing into the agitator axle can always escape from the agitator axle 39 into the drain valve housing 23 and from there to the drain outlet 65, regardless of the position of the drain valve 41.

The agitator is oscillated by a gear 60 secured to the lower end of the sleeve 34. This gear 60' meshes with a special gear 62 which is best shown in Fig. 3. This special gear 62 has a segment E33 in mesh with the agitator gear iii); and has another segment 64, of smaller pitch diameter, in mesh with a rack 65 on one side of a piston rod 66.

The piston rod 66 slides in a sleeve'68 extendin from one end of a cylinder 69 of a water motor). A piston 12 is connected with one end of the piston rod 66 and this piston reciprocates back and forth in the cylinder 69 in response to the admission of water under pressure into alternate ends of the cylinder 69 under the control of a valve which will be described in connection with Figs. 4 and 6.

The piston rod 66 is held against rotation by a stud Hi secured to the sleeve 68 and extending into a longitudinal channel 76 provided in the piston rod 66 on the side opposite to the rack 65.

As the piston red as moves back and forth in accordance with the strokes of the piston ii, the rack 65 oscillates the special gear 62 about an axle l8 and transmits motion through the special gear 62 to the agitator gear 88. The difference in the pitch diameter of the segments 63 and I5 provides a simple and compact mechanism for determining the mechanical advantage of the Water motor Hi with respect to the agitator gear 60. It will be evident that the angle through which the agitator oscillates is not the same as the angle through which the special gear oscillates because the pitch diameter of the gear segment 63 is not the same as the pitch diameter of the agitator gear 60.

The water motor YE! has a head-end port 9! and a crank-end port 92. These ports communicate with chambers 91 and 92, respectively, in a valve housing 93 at one side of the water motor re. The flow of water into and out of the chambers 9i and 92 is determined by a control valve 94 (Fig. 6) which slides in a valve bore 96 at one side of the water motor. Both ends of the valve bore 96 are open for the escapeof water into the space surrounding the outside of the water motor.

The mid-portion of the valve bore 96 communicates with a water inlet conduit 98 leading upward from a water supply fitting [G that has a spout I852 (Fig. to which a hose is connected; This hose is preferably provided with a a slipjfitting for connecting to the hot water sure is thus exerted against the head-end of" the motor piston. Water is free to exhaust'from. the water motor through the crank-end port 92 and from this chamber 92" through the open right-hand end of the valve" and chamber 92 bore 96. This provides for theexhaust of water from the crank-end side of the piston.

Movement of the control valve 94 to the right. in Fig. 5 connects the water inlet conduit 93 with the chamber 92' andthe cylinder port 92; and puts the cylinder port 9! and chamber. 9! in communication with the open left-hand end of the valve bore 96.

The valve operating mechanisin' for movingv the valve 94 is best shown in Fig. 4. A valve operating lever E05 has a hub portion that fits around the upper end of the axle or stud I8, and that is free to oscillate on this axle.

over a reduced diameter portion IE7 at one end of the control valve 524. shoulders ms and Meet the left and right-hand ends, respectively, of the reduced diameter portion it? of the control valve at.

Two studs ill and H2 extendupward fromithe top face of the gear 62. There is a flange H5;

best shown in Fig. 5, extending downward from the operating lever Hi5 into the'path of the studs H! and H2.

When the gear 62 turns to the right in Fig. 4, the stud l I! strikes the flange H5 of the operating lever 35 to move the operating lever to the right. When the gear 62 turns toward theleftp the stud H2 strikes the downwardly extending flange N5 of the operating lever Hi5 and rocks the operating lever to the left. The angular distance between the studs Hi and l l2'provid'esa lost motion connection between the specialgear The length of 62 and the operating lever E65. the reduced-diameter portion It? of the ValVeM,

in excess of the thickness of the forked end-of the lever I05, provides a lost motion-connection between the valve 95' and its operating-lever I65:

A spring H8. has its opposite ends connected. with pins l2] and I22 on the cylinder sleeve 68" and operating lever 595, respectively. The pin I22, which moves as a unit with the operating lever E05, is so located that during the operation of the lever H15 this pin I22 moves from one side to the other of a center line joining the axes of. the pin l2! and axle 18. This center line will be' The other end of the operating lever m5 is forked and fits There are confronting .5 referred to as the line l8--l2l. With this construction, the force of the compressed spring H8 tendsto rock the operating lever I to the left when the operating. lever is in the position shown in Fig. 4. This same pressure of the spring H8, however, will tend to rock the operating lever [05 to the right when the lever m5 is moved far enough to shift the pin I22 over to the right-hand side of the line 18-42 I.

In the operation of the device, the water motor turns the special gear 62 toward the right until the stud Ill moves the operating lever I05 far enough to carry the pin I22 beyond the line 'l8-l2l. The pressure of the spring H8 then operates to shift the operating lever H35 with a snap action, and theforked end of the operating lever moves over against the shoulder Hi3 of the control valve 94 and shifts the control valve to the other end of its stroke.

This movement of the control valve reverses the water motor 10 and causes the special gear 62 to turn in the opposite direction until the stud I [2 moves the operating lever Hi5 far enough to shift the pin l22 back to the left-hand side of the line ill-42!. As soon as the pin E22 has passed some distance beyond this line, the force of the spring H8 is sufficient to move the operating lever N35 to the left with a snap action. This brings the forked end of the operating lever into contact with the shoulder N9 of the control valve 94 and shifts the control valve to the other end of its stroke to again reverse the water motor.

In the operation of the Washing machine, the tub is filled with water and as much soap or soap powder as required for the wash. The motor moves the agitator back and forth to keep the clothes moving in the water, and the hot water from the motor exhaust forces some of the water under the partition H to move upward through the openings l8. This clear water mixes with the soapy water around the outside of the washing compartment and raises the 1evel of the water in the tub so that some of the water runs out through the overflow ports 43. The agitator causes a gradual mixing of th soapy water with the clear water that comes up from the openings l8.

The water in the washing compartment is diluted by the introduction of fresh water from under the partition H and the draining out of dirty soapy water from the upper center region of the tub through the overflow ports 43. The amount of Water exhausted from the motor is so proportioned to the size of the washing compartment that the washing operation is completedbefore the soapy water in the Washing compartment is so much diluted that it no longer has any washing efiect.

Continued flow of fresh Water from beneath the partition rinses the clothes and the water in the compartment above the partition becomes progressively clearer as the clothes become thoroughly rinsed. The transition from the washing operation to the rinsing operation is progressive, therefore, and requires no intervention by the operator of the washing machine. It is sufiicient to merely place the clothes and soap in the washing machine, and then let the Washing machine run, with an adequate supply of hot water to the motor, until a predetermined time has elapsed. The water is then shut off, the valve 4'! is opened to drain the tub and the clothes are removed from the washing machine for wringing and drying.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, but some features of the invention can be used alone or in different combinations without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a washing machine of the class wherein a tub has sides and a bottom, and there is an agitator in the tub connectedwith a Water motorat the bottom of the tub, and the water motor has an exhaust that discharges water from the motor into the tub, the combination with said tub of a partition located in the tub above the water motor and forming an intermediate bottom in the tub, there being at least one opening adjacent to the periphery of the partition for the flow of water into the space above the partition along a zone near the sides of the tub.

2..In a washing machine of the class wherein a tub has sides and a bottom, and an agitator in the tub is driven by a water motor, the combination with said tub of a partition extending across the tub above said bottom and forming an intermediate bottom for the tube, the agitator in the tub being above the intermediate bot tom, there being openings through the intermediate bottom for the flow of water into and out of the space above the partition and said openings being adjacent to the sides of the tub so that water. entering the tub moves upward in a zone near the sides of the tub, the water motor being located in the space between the bottom and the partition, an exhaust from the motor opening into the space below the partition, and an overflow drain at the upper portion of the tub near the central axis of the tub.

3. In a water power washing machine of the class wherein a tub has sides, a bottom, and an agitator in the tub is driven by a water motor, the combination with said tub of a partition above and spaced from the bottom of the tub, the agitator in the tub being above the partition, and the water motor being located in the space between the bottom and the partition, an exhaust conduit leading from the motor to the space between the bottom and the partition, there being openings near the peripheral portion of the partition for the flow of water toward and from the space above the partition, a drain at the bottom of the tub, and valve means for opening and closing the drain.

- 4. In a washing machine of the class wherein a tub has sides and a bottom, and an agitator in the tube is driven by a water motor, the combination with'said tub of a partition in the tub above the bottom, there being at least one opening near the periphery of the partition for the flow:

of water into and out of the space above the partition and along a zone near the sides of the tub, the agitator in the tub being above the partition, an exhaust from the water motor opening into the space between the partition and the bottom of the tub, a hollow axle on which the agitator oscillates, said axle being located along a central axis of the tub and having at least one top opening for the overflow of water from the tank, and a water drain communicating with the lower end of the axle.

5. In the washing machine described in claim 4 with a drain at the bottom of the tank, a valve for opening and closing said drain, an actuator for the valve located at the upper end of the agitator axle, and a motion transmitting connection extending from the actuator through the axle to the drain valve.

6. In a washing machine of the class wherein a tub has a cylindrical sidewall and a bottom integral with the lower end of the side wall, and an agitator in the tub is driven by a water motor, the combination with. said tub' of. an inwardly extending peripheral. corrugation in the. side wallof'the tub at a level .near the bottom, a partition located within the tub and supported from the inwardly extending corrugation, said partition having a circle of holesnear its peripheral edge for the flow of water into'and out of the space above the partitionalong a substantially'cylindrical zone near the side wall of. the tub, an axle forthe agitator rigidly connected with the bottom of'the tub and extending upward through the partition to a level near the top of the tub, the agitator being in the tub above the partition, bearings'connected with the agitator and fitting the agitator axle, said axle being hollow and'having at least one opening near its upper end for the overflow of'water from the tub, the. Water motor being locatedin the space between. the partition and the bottom of the tub, an exhaustfrom the watermotor opening into the tub. below the partition, a valve housing connected with the bottom of the tub and having adrain outlet, at least one passage through which water drains from the tub into the valve housing, a valve in the housing'for opening and closing the drain conduits, a rod connected with the valve element and extending upward through'the agitatoraxle, and a knob. located at the top of'the axle and connected with the rod and movable to open and close the drain valve.

7. In a washing machine ofthe' class wherein a tub has an agitator therein, a hollow fixed'axle for the'agitator extending upward from the bottom of the tub, and a drain outlet comprising at least one opening from the tub into theinterior of the hollow axle at the lower. end of the tub, the combination with said tub of a valve for opening and closing said outlet, and. an operating rodfor the valve extending upward through the axleof the agitator.

8. In a washing machine of the class wherein a tub has an agitator therein, an axle extendingupward from the bottom of the tub'and on which the agitator oscillates, said axle beinghollow. andv having openings at its lower. and upper end for the flow of water from the tub, and the tub has adrain outlet at the bottom of the tub, thev combination with said tub of a valve. for opening and closingsthe 'drainoutlet, and a valve'operating'rod extending from the valveupward through the hollow interior of the agitator axlefor manually operating the'valve.

9. In a washing'machine of the class wherein a tub has a bottom with a circle of drain openings through said-bottom around a center axis of the tub, and'a tubular axle extends upward from the bottom of the tub substantially along the center axis, an agitator that oscillates on the axle as a bearing, said axle having openings at its upper and lower end for the overflow of water from the tub, the combination with said tub of a valve located at the bottom of the tub and extending across the open lower end of the axle and under the drain" openings in the bottom of the tub, said; valve having a face that is movable into position to block'the flow of water from the drain openings, but having a permanently open passage under the axle for flow of water from the axle, a rod secured to the valve and extending upward through the axle, means for preventing the valve from rotating, and an operating knob at the upper end of the axle with threads that engage with other threads on the upper end of the rod, said knob 'having'a surface that rotates on a confrontingbearing surface of the agitator axle.

1D. In a washing machine of the class wherein a tub has an axle rigidly connected therewith, and, an agitator oscillates in the tub, the combination with said agitator of an axle'which is hollow and has at least one opening at its upper end for the overflow of liquid from the tub, andguards in front of said one or more openings for preventing clothes in the tub from blocking the overflow of water into the axle, said guards being connected with the agitator and movable as a unit with the agitator so as to cause movement of any clothes that come into contact with said guards.

JOSEPH M. TYRNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 5,819 Marsh Oct. 3, 1848 977,772 Yassenoif Dec. 6, 1910 1,115,837 Kleinow Nov. 3, 1914 1,145,157 Mann July 6, 1915 1,659,283 Schroeder Feb. 14, 1928 1,707,083 Howcott Mar. 26, 1929 1,932,246 Kirby Oct. 24, 1933 2,279,878. Suits et al. Apr. 14, 1942 2,361,767 Hays, Jr. Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 712,157 Germany Oct. 14, 1941 

